Hot Cross Buns by Zarnak Sidhwa

Ingredients:

• Flour 500 gm
• Caster sugar 2 oz
• Dried yeast powder 1 tbsp
• Salt 1 tsp
• Ground cinnamon 1 tsp
• Ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp
• Butter melted and cooled 2 oz
• Warm milk 1/2 cup
• Warm water 1/4 cup
• Egg 1
• Currants or raisins 3 oz
• Orange peel chopped 1 tbsp
• Oil to grease
• Shortcrust pastry 2 oz

For Glaze:

• Water 2 tbsp
• Caster sugar 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Sift flour add in sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
2. Pour in the melted and cooled butter, milk, water, egg, currants, peel and mix to a soft dough.
3. Knead until smooth and elastic.
4. Shape in a round and put in an oiled bowl to rise in a warm place till doubled for an hour.
5. Knock back the dough with your fists and turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead till smooth.
6. Divide into rounds and roll out the shortcrust pastry and cut in thick strips and place on top of the bun in a cross shape.
7. Secure with a little water.
8. Lightly oil baking trays and arrange buns on it.
9. Cover with oiled cling film and let rise again for 30 minutes.
10. Bake at 220 degrees C for 15 minutes or till risen and brown.
11. Let cool on wire rack and make a sugar glaze by melting sugar in water and then brush over buns.
12. Serve warm with butter and jam.